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knitter4democracy

(14,350 posts)

59. This is neither surprising nor new. This is what we have been taught.

Wed Feb 27, 2013, 12:22 PM

Feb 2013

Read the stories--they only mention a couple of emperors. Take out any hyperbole that was added over the centuries, and you have a few horrific examples to scare the populace into submission. That's not to say that people weren't scared or hiding, though--all it takes is seeing one of your number burned at the stake, and it makes you think twice about sticking your neck out.

No, the persecution wasn't constant. I grew up in an evangelical church, and I was never taught that it was constant, just that persecutions periodically happened so people kept their faith on the down-low, just in case. A few were martyred, some horrifically, and the rest were scared but faithful.

Those with a persecution complex today have to make it up and ignore the data. They do it deliberately because, if they don't, then they'd have to admit that they've become the Pharisees.

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Were Early Christians Really Persecuted? Historian Reveals the Surprising Truth. [View all] xchrom Feb 2013 OP

The first minority group in history that wasn't persecuted? I don't think so. reformist2 Feb 2013 #1

Romans were well-known for tolerating religious diversity, weren't they? MNBrewer Feb 2013 #4

They seemed to like killing Jews, and Christians were considered a sub-sect of Judaism Recursion Feb 2013 #14

They liked killing MNBrewer Feb 2013 #23

Wasn't Saul/Paul a Jew who persecuted Christians? I am not very versed in Christian history any sunwyn Feb 2013 #83

Yes, that is what Saul/Paul did. n/t. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #90

"At least until 100 or so" A HERETIC I AM Feb 2013 #34

There were literally thousands of little sects in the first two centuries CE alcibiades_mystery Feb 2013 #43

Precisely. Well said. n/t A HERETIC I AM Feb 2013 #46

Actually they co-existed with Jewish religious leaders quite well Major Nikon Feb 2013 #48

Funny, Vespasian disagrees with you... Recursion Feb 2013 #49

So the Jews revolted 3 times for about a dozen years total Major Nikon Feb 2013 #51

Why don't you ask the druids? davidthegnome Feb 2013 #63

Yes, they were...this was about conquering a people, not a religion... joeybee12 Feb 2013 #69

"all was good and you could worship anything you wanted." midwest irish Feb 2013 #76

No joeybee12 Feb 2013 #77

Seriously midwest irish Feb 2013 #78

And they paved your streets with gold? davidthegnome Feb 2013 #79

The main reason the Romans tried to get rid of the Druids LibertyLover Feb 2013 #87

Early Christians WERE persecuted, but largely by Pharisaic Jews. ColesCountyDem Feb 2013 #47

I'd have to read it to believe it. nt riqster Feb 2013 #2

How better to sell a book than to create a controversy, especially one centered around.... OldDem2012 Feb 2013 #3

Sacred cow makes the tastiest burgers. MNBrewer Feb 2013 #5

yet another disassembling theory. zeemike Feb 2013 #26

As are there people that are willing to believe.... A HERETIC I AM Feb 2013 #36

Well true enough. zeemike Feb 2013 #60

I don't have a hard time believing this and I am a Christian...... Swede Atlanta Feb 2013 #6

I got the impression from the article MNBrewer Feb 2013 #24

This. Not sacrificing to the emperor was tantamount to treason. Ikonoklast Feb 2013 #84

There was a well attested persecution intaglio Feb 2013 #7

And then that little incident in Germany tavalon Feb 2013 #11

Deviation from the point intaglio Feb 2013 #81

Is it history or is it really a commentary on modern times? el_bryanto Feb 2013 #8

It doesn't sound like a comparison of the situation so much as a note on the way myths take root skygazer Feb 2013 #61

Far more Christians have suffered at the hands of other randr Feb 2013 #9

I agree--the wars of religion in Europe and Britain during the Renaissance period is proof enough SemperEadem Feb 2013 #12

hello - in Africa, Muslims are slaughtering Christians on a MUCH larger scale. Zax2me Feb 2013 #13

Not at all randr Feb 2013 #15

"and this somehow justifies other violence??" midwest irish Feb 2013 #80

Ancient Rome had a whopping 1 million people in the city limits. reformist2 Feb 2013 #17

OMG...Were slaves REALLY mistreated? Zax2me Feb 2013 #10

There were slaves of all races and religions that Romans came in contact with Fumesucker Feb 2013 #16

WOW!?!? SkyDaddy7 Feb 2013 #21

Agree! OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #37

Over the centuries Christianity has tended to be the oppressor, not the oppressee. Arugula Latte Feb 2013 #62

Wake up call for the in denial brigade Zax2me Feb 2013 #18

WND isn't welcome here deutsey Feb 2013 #22

Ever heard of the LRA? ET Awful Feb 2013 #42

Persecution doesn't need to be consistent and sustained to be persecution. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #19

Frankly, denial that atrocities were/are committed against Christians in the past and present OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #20

The point is that the Romans did it to everybody, including themselves Fumesucker Feb 2013 #53

That sounds like an interesting and illuminating book MotherPetrie Feb 2013 #25

Some American Christians believe they are somehow being persecuted in America mountain grammy Feb 2013 #27

"Persecution" doesn't necessarily mean in the form of violence. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #29

Are you kidding me? What kind of ridicule? I can't see that as persecution. mountain grammy Feb 2013 #30

If someone were teasing/ridiculing/taunting homosexuals, or atheists OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #33

I would say it was bullying, but the point is, I don't see that happening to Christians in America. mountain grammy Feb 2013 #39

I would respectfully disagree. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #44

How would anyone know that someone is a Christian? Fumesucker Feb 2013 #88

If that person states they are a Christian, or speaks Christian views. n/t. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #89

They DON'T? Marr Feb 2013 #72

Poor Poor Christians - with their 80% supermajority and stranglehold on all levels of power dmallind Feb 2013 #41

"80% supermajority?" OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #45

78.4% of Americans are Christian over 80% of Fed Government FreeState Feb 2013 #52

Thanks for the info. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #54

Population/electorate - government is far more than that as a result dmallind Feb 2013 #57

... Arugula Latte Feb 2013 #68

Ha ha ha! Arugula Latte Feb 2013 #67

Oh come on! Are your really gonna take the word of a mere eyewitness ? Bucky Feb 2013 #28

Christians are ALWAYS re-making their own reality in their own image / fantasy Demeter Feb 2013 #31

Not my specific expertise, but correctly understood this makes sense dmallind Feb 2013 #32

Thought-provoking article. trotsky Feb 2013 #35

sounds like a facinating book. blackspade Feb 2013 #38

Is it really any surprise to anyone that Christians invent mythologies of persecution? alcibiades_mystery Feb 2013 #40

Fox's "War on Christians" plays well to the poor, persecuted white Christians mountain grammy Feb 2013 #50

Plenty of Christians in America aren't white. n/t. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #56

I know. I'm referring to who Fox news appeals to with their phony, made up war on Christians. mountain grammy Feb 2013 #65

I don't think so. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #71

The whole concept of persecution against Christians in America is made up! That's my point. mountain grammy Feb 2013 #85

I disagree - from personal experience. N/t. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #86

Sorry, not good enough.. this old grammy needs facts. mountain grammy Feb 2013 #91

The way it was taught to me, it seems as if persecution is built into the very doctrine. 6000eliot Feb 2013 #55

They say The TRUTH shall set you free thetruthhurtsforsome Feb 2013 #58

This is neither surprising nor new. This is what we have been taught. knitter4democracy Feb 2013 #59

Thousands of historians writing over the last 2000 years +/- say otherwise. onehandle Feb 2013 #64

When some Christians attempt to preach to me the 'good word' Shadowflash Feb 2013 #66

I can easily believe that such persecution myths are a quirk of Christianity. Marr Feb 2013 #70

An interview with the author HarveyDarkey Feb 2013 #73

The Jews were never slaves, the Christians were never persecuted.... Taverner Feb 2013 #74

In other words, if it wasn't ordered by HQ, it couldn't happen and therefore didn't happen. Igel Feb 2013 #75

The Gross Stupidity Of Suggesting That Christians Were Not Persecuted Displays Such Ignorance KittyWampus Feb 2013 #82

Locking: This is a thread about Religion and History. MineralMan Feb 2013 #92